Colorado 14er Disasters:: Victims of the Game [Paperback]

Mark Scott-Nash (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2009

Fourteener mania, the phenomena characterized by a seemingly obsessive drive to summit the list of all fifty-four of Colorado s 14,000-foot peaks, is an older tradition than many may realize. Along with intensely positive experiences in climbing is the possibility of the opposite extreme to become stranded, severely injured, or even killed, in disturbingly easy ways. This book explores this dark side of climbing. When an accident happens on a 14er, the victim is far from help and in an environment where rescue is difficult at best. The book is full of hair-raising stories of these disasters and resue attempts and also aids in avoiding such disasters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In his riveting book, Scott-Nash chronicles several Colorado alpine calamities--e.g., climbers stranded on the Diamond, a critically injured glissader, a woman missing on Holy Cross--and the often-poor decision-making that contributed. Neither sensationalistic nor coldly analytical, the stories unfold with humanity, suspense, and valuable insight. --Kristen Bjornsen - Climbing Magazine

About the Author

Mark Scott-Nash is a writer and Colorado native living in Boulder, and has extensive experience in all aspects of mountaineering and technical climbing, ranging from the local Colorado mountains to far-flung locations in Asia, South America, and Alaska. Mark has participated in more than one hundred search and rescue missions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Johnson Books (May 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555664318
• ISBN-13: 978-1555664312
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #409,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Mountaineering > Excursion Guides

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating - and thought provoking., May 29, 2009

By 

Tim Pinkowski - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Colorado 14er Disasters:: Victims of the Game (Paperback)

I was glued to the book once I started it. As an avid hiker and backcountry skier, I found this book to be a sobering reminder of how simple decisions can quickly lead to catastrophe. Mark does a tremendous service to us all by providing insight into how easily one can be trapped in irreversible and potentially fatal circumstances by just one or a few careless choices. I recommend this book to all that love adventuring in the mountains.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colorado 14er Disasters Victims of the Game - A+, May 27, 2009

By 

Dewi B. Hughes "Climber Nut" (CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Colorado 14er Disasters:: Victims of the Game (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Colorado 14er Disasters Victims of the Game by Mark Scott-Nash. Living in Colorado and very active in the mountains both hiking and technical climbing, these stories resonated with me. His insight and honesty into the motives and circumstances that caused both novice and experienced individuals to become the latest "Victims of the Game" is refreshing.

Very well written, an easy read, insightful and honest makes this book worth every penny.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great read, December 16, 2009

By 

Ed Beckmann (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Colorado 14er Disasters:: Victims of the Game (Paperback)

I have read many true life adventure books over the years. It's one of my favorite genres. This book is right up there with one of the best I've ever read. I guess it doesn't hurt that I work in Boulder, live in Colorado, and hike the same mountains that he's written about here. He doesn't write just a few pages on a lot of different topics. Rather, he writes on a few incidents and provides important background. The newspaper accounts of these events I've read in the past leave much to be desired. After reading this book I feel I better understand the hazards and conditions these people faced. Best of all, he shows how these disasters happen in similar situations, whether at the same place or on nearby mountains. You come away with a better understanding of how to avoid a similar fate befalling you as well; although nothing is guaranteed in the mountains.